CORAL GABLES – Hurricanes acting athletic director Tony Hernandez, who was named to his new position Thursday, said he has spoken to his former AD Kirby Hocutt and expects him to stay a couple of more weeks.

“Kirby’s got a couple of assignments he’s still working on that I’m well aware of,” Hernandez said. “Him and I are meeting next week to start going through that process. Kirby and I have a great working relationship, so I’m assuming we’ll work hand-in-hand. Once he departs for Lubbock [TX.], then I’ll take over in a more official capacity.”

Hernandez said his first real task as acting AD will be the ACC athletic directors’ meetings next week. He’s already working, though.

Hernandez said he received an email from Yankees officials Thursday morning and is picking up Hocutt’s effort to secure a UM football game there in 2013. He added he should know more next week.

As for the future of men’s basketball coach Frank Haith, Hernandez reiterated Hocutt’s stance that Haith will definitely be back next season.

“We have complete faith in Frank,” Hernandez said. “I can tell you with all certainty Frank Haith will be our coach next year.”

Hernandez said he hasn’t yet decided whether he will make himself a candidate for the permanent AD position.

“Is it something I’m interested in? Yes. Have I applied for it or put my name out there? Not yet,” he said.

UM said Thursday it expects to make a full-time hire by fall. It is just now starting to assemble a list of possible candidates.

“I’m honored that [UM] president [Donna] Shalala gave me the opportunity to lead the department through the transition over the next few months,” said Hernandez, who now oversees about 150 staff members, about three times as many as deputy AD, the position he had previously held since August.

Hernandez began working at UM 13 years ago as a graduate assistant while he was in law school. He currently teaches an undergraduate sports law class. Hernandez moved from Pasadena, Calif., to South Florida in 1983 when he was 8 years old. A lifelong ‘Canes fan, he received his undergraduate degree from UM, as did his wife, Melissa.

The Gators set the tone to score, as predicted by The Curse of Art Kehoe, at least 20 runs during the three game massacre.

Was this a case of what Golden describes as “malicious obedience?” Truthfully, I’d just like to know what the hell malicious obedience is.

Wasn’t canesfool saying this week that he would like to see Da []__[] sweep the Gators “like we did two years ago in Gainesville.” That silliness went bye bye after just a couple of innings. In your silly prognostication []__[] forgot to mention that Florida has ENDED Da []__[]’s season TWICE since then. You have always had selective memory and this is no exception. Silly canesfool.

Better sticks, more of them
Better arms, more of them
Better defense, by a mile,
Better recruiting, not even close
Better coaching, younger, more energetic

Maybe []__[] could get Art Kehoe to “walk over from the football offices” and yell at the lethargic baseball squad. Why not, it worked decades ago.

Time for a change in mgt for the baseball team,will not even qualify for a regional this year. Did they even swing a bat during the off season? This is without a doubt the worse hitting team I have seen in a long time.

Is the depth chart only a message? If so, then I agree with ‘Cuse that this is petty. At first glance, it was like I was reading “Kirby Freeman named starter” all over again, but JHarris and SMorris have not done anything during games to earn the starting job, and if they did not even outperform the 3rd string qb in off-season tire throwing and weight lifting (and generally being a leader and positive example to the team) then why should I assume this is only Golden sending a message? Could it be that many of the starters from last seaon were really not the best guys to lead this team into a new winning era? If all of the “stars” from last season keep their jobs for 2012, then will UM be much better, or will Golden actually make some dramatic changes and put some “established” players on the bench? I’m curious to read Steve’s assessment of the qb performances in a few days to see if Whipple is actually a viable option or if Golden is trying to punk the guys into compliance. We have read multiple reports of players who deserved more chances at playing time over other players who were not getting it done, but who kept getting the nod from Shannon, so could this be the case at qb, or will Whipple simply be a warning to get the guys “behind” him to take more of a leadership role. Sad if it is the latter…Harris and Morris should never have let this happen. I’m giving Golden the benefit here and hoping UM has a third qb option.